Size a dry creek bed at 3–4 inches of stone: width × length × depth ÷ 324. A typical 2-ft wide, 30-ft run works out to about 0.8 cubic yards — order 1 to 1.5 yards so you can mound the edges and set larger accents.
Layering that looks natural
- Riverbed 1.5" — the main channel fill that carries the water line
- Creek Stone 2"–3" — scattered along banks and bends for scale
- Fabric underneath — keeps stone from sinking into soil
Rounded stone reads as a real stream far better than crushed, and spring downpours will actually use the channel you build. Aim for a gentle S-curve and vary the stone density along the run — straight, uniform channels look machine-made. Run your exact dimensions through the material calculator before checkout.
